TikTok trend for ‘Dubai chocolate’ causes international shortage of pistachios

High-end bar with Middle East-style nut filling is rationed in shops as price of raw kernels surges

Product promotion on TikTok is now powerful enough to influence the vast agricultural economies of the US and Iran - at least when it comes to the consumption of high-end confectionery.

A chocolate bar stuffed with a creamy green pistachio filling has become incredibly popular after a series of video clips shared on the social media site. The first bit of footage praising the taste of the expensive so-called Dubai chocolate" was posted at the end of 2023 and has now been viewed more than 120m times, to say nothing of the many follow-up videos.